April 16, 1999

 Emerging Trends

1.  Some survey findings from Emerging Trends published by the Princeton Religion Research Center (October-December Issue):

1.       44% of Americans are unchurched (Men 50%, Women 39%, non-whites 37%, Blacks 32%, College Educated 40%, High School or less 49%.  The West is most unchurched, 52%; and the South least, 39%).

2.       Four in ten Americans see Judgment Day likely in the next century.

3.       79% of Americans see extramarital sex as always wrong.

4.       34% of Lutherans say they worship weekly.

5.       88% of Americans feel a need to experience spiritual growth in their lives.  61% say religion is very important in their lives.  Half of Americans are fearful of being unforgiven and cut off from God's love when they die.

2.  More research results, from the Protestant Church - Owned Publisher's Association:

1.       At a time when Americans increasingly are preferring larger churches, there are more than 100,000 U.S. congregations with fewer than 50 in attendance.

2.       Church seekers increasingly expect excellence in worship, music, preaching, parking, buildings, lighting, sound systems and quality resources.

3.       People choose a church more on the basis of relationships and size than on denomination or location.

4.       Volunteers expect short and focused meetings and shorter-term commitments.

5.       94% of LCMS churches look first for denominational resources.

6.       Helps for ministry beyond the congregation are rated lowest, with children and youth ministry resources rated highest in Protestant churches.

7.       In LCMS churches, priorities for members are:  worship: 78%, survival: 56%, education for children and youth: 56%, evangelism: 19%, and serving needs of the community: 17%.

8.       Of the LCMS churches surveyed, 39% have blended or contemporary worship services, 44% have Internet access, 74% consider that their denomination is important to them, yet 89% want an emphasis on the denomination in the resources, 87% see the resources improving, and 24% see cost as a deciding issue.